As a child you played in the dirt

making mud pies for your daddy,

teasin’ momma with the wigglin’ worms

you were a mighty dinosaur, eating trees made of broccoli

growing like a weed

in the dirt

Helping your grandma pick the berries,

one for the bucket and one for your sugar stained tongue

even the sweet peas and tomatoes tasted better, fresh from the garden,

the dirt rubbed off on your jeans

 

You happily roamed through the labyrinth rows

pretending to be the lost princess of The Great Beyond

no goblins, no bears to catch you unawares

because your dog patrolled this patch of land

he marked it as his which in turn made it yours

the sunshine warmed ground was the best place in town

for a nap with your best friend

suddenly you found a tougher go -round

and “dirt nap” took on a different meaning

but you were tough and you didn’t cry

when they put grandpa to sleep

his watch, yours now, forever to keep

Daddy got lost, he and momma split up

your world whorled wholly out of your control

you left your farm home, decided to roam and find more meanings in life

you found the grass wasn’t grass, but a hoe was still a hoe

and it raked at your soul, you found the dirt

you dug in and smiled ’cause after a while you just couldn’t stay clean

sleeping in laundry rooms, eating the trash

selling your body

’cause you needed the cash

you dug deeper for dragons and fairies in green

purposely dulling your senses ’cause the streets were too mean

Then one day you saw her, or maybe not

looked like your momma, through your head full of snot

the body was older, the figure was lean

but the eyes when they lighted on you, what a gleam!

she knew it was you from the very first glance

she grabbed at your hand and she pulled you away

said you’re coming home, you’re coming to stay

grandma was gone, daddy’d died too

so much had happened while you weren’t you

away from your friends, mostly guilt dragged you through

but as the days wore on she got through to you

This land she said, this land is our land

yours and mine too 

we’ll work it together just like before

but this place is our homeland, it deserves your respect

you love it, protect it or get out the door

I been here now twenty years, maybe more

This land is my home, I’ve opened it to you

The dirt’s a lot cleaner than cities or towns

you’ll understand the magic if we’ve children around

for no matter where,

how far, or how long

the lands filled with sirens

forever singing their song